GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Indians have had a number of close calls on the injury front this spring, another one arriving Sunday against the Diamondbacks at Goodyear Ballpark.
Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera left Cleveland’s 5-3 victory in the first inning after experiencing tightness in his right leg while running the bases, following his base hit. He gingerly jogged off the field from third base and was replaced by Luis Valbuena.
“He’s fine. He just cramped up in one of his legs,” manager Manny Acta said. “We don’t want to take any chances.”
Cabrera’s injury came two days after right fielder Shin-Soo Choo was hit on the batting helmet by a pitch from Texas starter Matt Harrison but remained in the game, and a day after utility infielder candidate Adam Everett jammed his thumb on a stolen base attempt against the Angels in Tempe, Ariz.
Acta said Cabrera would not play today, but doesn’t consider the injury to be a worrisome one.
“We’re going to give him a day and make sure there’s no trouble,” Acta said. “There’s no rush. He played winter ball and he’s played well this spring. We don’t have to find out about him.”
Testing, testing
Everett said he would undergo an MRI on his sprained left thumb today.
“It’s definitely not a broken bone or anything like that,” Everett said. “Hopefully it’s just a sprain and I can get back out there as soon as possible.”
The eight-year veteran sustained the injury while sliding head-first into the leg of Angels shortstop Erick Aybar, who was attempting to block Everett from the base.
Everett did not appreciate Aybar’s maneuver.
“He blocked the base on me on a stolen base in spring training,” Everett said. “You don’t see that too often. It was a little disappointing that it was done that way.”
Tough luck
Nick Weglarz’s season might be over before it begins.
Weglarz, who was expected to start in the outfield for Triple-A Columbus, was diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his left knee, sustaining the injury while running the bases in a minor league intrasquad game Thursday.
The Canadian-born Weglarz, a third-round draft pick in 2005, has returned to Cleveland and will likely undergo surgery at the Cleveland Clinic.
Roster reduction
The Indians made another round of cuts Saturday, optioning RHP Josh Judy (1-1, 7.36, five games) to Columbus, while re-assigning RHP Johan Pino (0-0, 5.40, two games) and Joe Martinez (0-0, 10.80, five games) to minor league camp.
None of the three pitchers were candidates to make Cleveland’s opening day roster.
Charles in charge
The Diamondbacks’ new pitching coach is none other than Charles Nagy, and he’s the same unassuming guy that flew under the radar during his playing days with the Indians (1990-2002).
Nagy was a three-time All-Star and finished in the top 10 in American League Cy Young voting three times, winning at least 15 games six times in 13 seasons in Cleveland. He was a staple in the rotation for five straight Central Division championships (1995-99) and part of two AL titles (’95 and ’97) on a team powered by offense.
“I don’t think people realized he was as good as he was,” former Cleveland pitching coach Mark Wiley told the Arizona Republic. “There was a lot of focus on our offense in Cleveland, and guys didn’t realize what some of our starting pitchers did, particularly Charlie.”
Nagy, who after retiring in 2003 served two stints in the Indians organization, first as a special assistant, and last year as Columbus’ pitching coach, didn’t mind.
“I kind of liked that,” he said. “It was kind of nice. That’s the way our team was built, and I understood that. I understood my role.”
Another former Indian, Brett Butler (1984-87), is also in the Arizona organization as the manager for Triple-A Reno.
Roundin’ third
Today, 4:05 vs. Royals at Surprise Stadium (Surprise, Ariz.), no television or radio. Josh Tomlin (0-0, 1.13) vs. Luke Hochevar (1-0, 4.15).
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.
